Society of Suriname
Encyclopedia
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
: Sociëteit van Suriname) was a Dutch private company, modelled on the ideas of Jean-Baptiste Colbert
Jean-Baptiste Colbert
Jean-Baptiste Colbert was a French politician who served as the Minister of Finances of France from 1665 to 1683 under the rule of King Louis XIV. His relentless hard work and thrift made him an esteemed minister. He achieved a reputation for his work of improving the state of French manufacturing...
and set up on 21 May 1683 to profit from the management and defence of the Dutch Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
's colony of Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
. It had three participants, with equal shares in the costs and benefits of the society; the city of Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, the family Van Aerssen van Sommelsdijck
Cornelis van Aerssen van Sommelsdijck
Cornelis van Aerssen van Sommelsdijck was the first governor of Suriname after the establishment of the Society of Suriname in 1683. He was governor from 28 November 1683 until he was murdered on 19 July 1688...
, and the Dutch West India Company
Dutch West India Company
Dutch West India Company was a chartered company of Dutch merchants. Among its founding fathers was Willem Usselincx...
. Only through mutual consent could these shareholders withdraw from the society.
Although the organization and administration was of the colony was limited to these three shareholders, all citizens of the Dutch Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
were free to trade with Suriname. Also, the planters were consulted in a Council of Police, which was a unique feature among the colonies of Guyana.
Its governors included Cornelis van Aerssen van Sommelsdijck
Cornelis van Aerssen van Sommelsdijck
Cornelis van Aerssen van Sommelsdijck was the first governor of Suriname after the establishment of the Society of Suriname in 1683. He was governor from 28 November 1683 until he was murdered on 19 July 1688...
, Johan van Scharphuizen
Johan van Scharphuizen
Joan or Johan van Scharphuysen, Scharphuizen or Jan van Scherpenhuizen was a Dutch colonist, a judge in Suriname, a slave-trader, colonial governor from 1689 to 1696 on behalf of the Society of Surinam, and a considerable plantation-owner.-Life:Van Scharphuizen most probably had his roots in...
, and Paulus van der Veen
Paulus van der Veen
Paul van der Veen Doens was a Dutch colonial governor. From 1696 to 1706 he was governor of Suriname, succeeding Johan van Scharphuizen. For twenty-five years, until his death, he was a member of the board of the Society of Surinam.He was the son of Balthasar van der Veen and Susanna Pels...
.
Sources
Aa, A.J.Abraham Jacob van der Aa
Abraham Jacob van der Aa was a Dutch literator. He was born in Amsterdam in 1792. His father was a lawyer. From the ages of 6 till 12 he visited the dayschool in Amstelveen. After this he was send to the boarding school of J.E. van Iterson in Aarlanderveen but only stayed there for a year...
Beknopt Aardrijkskundig Woordenboek der Nederlanden, Gorinchem 1851-'54. Winter, P.J. van (1987) De Westindische Compagnie ter kamer Stad en Lande, p. 201-4, 217.